VIDEO: Peters Speaks on Senate Floor to Urge Colleagues to Extend Essential Health Care Subsides & Protect Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that help lower health care premium costs for millions of Americans. Peters underscored that without extending these subsidies, the cost of health care will increase even more than it already has after Republicans passed their One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this year, and many Michiganders will be priced out of their coverage altogether. Peters urged his colleagues to vote in favor of extending the ACA tax credits to make health care more accessible and affordable.

“Right now, folks across Michigan are shopping for their 2026 health care coverage. And when they log onto the marketplace, they are seeing staggering price hikes for the exact same coverage they currently have,” said Senator Peters. “There is no question that America is facing a health care affordability crisis, and these credits are the best tool we have to provide some financial relief, right now, for families who desperately need it.”

Peters continued, “But Republicans have made it clear time and time again that they are perfectly fine letting this program expire, all the while, offering no true alternative vision for how we can keep health care costs down for Americans.”

To watch Peters’ full speech on the Senate floor, click HERE.

Peters highlighted examples of how Republicans’ cuts to health care and refusal to extend the ACA tax credits will cause Michiganders’ health care premiums to skyrocket next year.

“A family of four living in Detroit paid $980 a month in 2025 for the average plan. What would that same plan cost now if Republicans allow these essential health care credits to expire? Well, that family is going to now pay up to $2,700 a month... Take a 64-year-old couple living in Kent County. They currently pay a roughly $600 monthly premium for their coverage. Soon, that cost will be over $2,000 a month for just their premium,” said Peters. “And remember, these monthly costs don’t even count toward their deductibles. Folks will still have to pay more before their insurance even kicks in.”

Peters also highlighted the already reported decline in ACA health care plan enrollees in Michigan compared to one year ago as a result of rising costs.

“Too many families are being forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to go without their health care coverage altogether. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly 14,000 fewer Michiganders have enrolled in an Affordable Care Act health care plan compared to this time last year. That’s almost 14,000 Michiganders who may have to go without health care at all next year because our Republican colleagues refuse to act. And we know that when less people have insurance, it drives up the cost of health care for everybody else,” said Peters.

Peters has fought tooth-and-nail to protect Michiganders’ access to quality, affordable health care. Peters took to the Senate floor earlier this year to oppose Senate Republicans’ bill that will take away health care and food assistance from millions of Americans. Peters again spoke on the Senate floor last month to urge his colleagues to pass his proposal to extend the ACA tax credits and help address the health care affordability crisis.

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